National riders to be announced third week of January
18/12/2008

18 DEC 2009, KUALA LUMPUR: Riders of national squad and MCF Cycling Team who will represent the country in the prestigious tour in Asia, Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2009 will be announced in the third week of January.

LTdL’s Executive Chairman, Tuan Haji Abu Samah Hj Abd Wahab said that the final list of 12 riders will be discussed with road race’s coach, Jamaluddin Omar and Ng Joo Ngan.

"Together with the head coach of the national team; John Beasley, they will determine the list of national riders who will represent the country in LTdL 2009. We will make ensure that only the best of the best will be enlisted," he said.

He said that the selection’s criteria would be determined by the recent performance and also the achievement of riders in the previous tours they participated.

Abu Samah who is also the President of MNCF said that to date there are 21 riders undergoing training in the program Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN).

"All 21 riders are undergoing the training but only the best 12 will make it to represent the country in LTdL 2009," he said.

Among those who are undergoing the training program at MSN are Suhardi Hassan, Anuar Manan, Mohd Faris Abd Razak, Mohd Firdaus Daud, Mohd Fauzan Ahamd Lutif, Mohd Zamri Salleh and Ahmad Haidar Anuawar.

He said that after the national squad had participated in the Tour d'Indonesia and Tour of Hainan last month, this time around the MCF Cycling Team’s riders are participating in the Tour of South China Sea as part of preparation for LTdL.

"We wanted to send both teams but the organizer requested that our continental team to participate in the tour," he said.

He also hopes that each one of them will show their mettle in every tour in order to secure their place in LTdL 2009.

He said that Malaysia will be represented by three teams, National Team, MCF Cycling Team and also LeTua in hope that each teams can be a force to be reckoned with to the other 17 teams partaking in the 14th edition of LTdL.

Abu Samah said that 20 teams comprise of pro continental teams, continental teams, clubs and national teams will challenge each other in LTdL 2009 on par with its status as the world’s biggest tour out of Europe.

LTdL 2009 will be held from 9th to 15th Feb next year is a tour of seven-stage starting from Putrajaya to Senawang (Stage 1), Senawang to Melaka (Stage 2), Melaka to Melaka (Stage 3); Melaka to Bandar Baru Bangi (Stage 4), Petaling Jaya to Genting Highlands (Stage 5), Batang Kali to Shah Alam (Stage 6) and Kuala Lumpur Criterium (Stage 7).

LTdL 2009 of Hors status rating by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is jointly organized by Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) and MNCF.

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